Monday's letters: Self-reliance

Published: Monday, October 15, 2012 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, October 12, 2012 at 5:34 p.m.

To the editor: Let’s talk about Eva Ritchey’s letter of Sept. 17. She claims, “You didn’t build that.” That no one can make it without government. Does this sound like America’s republic to you?

Government used to be controlled by “we the people,” whose tax money hired contractors to build what people wanted. Perhaps she means that government is now this monster, no longer controlled by citizens, and therefore builds things without their control. Or maybe she means that teachers are no longer just “we the people,” who want to teach objectively, but government workers who indoctrinate our kids, like many “liberal” college professors who fail to teach America’s greatness.

When exposed to the same roads, teachers and civic workers as entrepreneurs, most of us didn’t become such. Was she just insulting entrepreneurs who she thinks were just lucky to achieve when the rest of us didn’t? And if others just had programs that transferred money from entrepreneurs to those who don’t work, they, too, would be successful? Sounds like tax-the-rich Barack Obama.

All conservatives want is for government to encourage self-reliance by only helping those who can’t help themselves. We want efficiency of government.

We don’t understand why everyone doesn’t want that.

Stephen Jones

Hendersonville

Don’t count on me

To the editor: Candidate Mitt Romney said in his Boca Raton, Fla., speech to wealthy supporters that 53 percent of the American people paid income taxes, and he implied they were the ones who might be expected to vote Republican. As one who is numbered among that group, I would like to tell him and all other Republican operatives that they cannot count on my vote.

Although I retired more than a decade ago, I pay income taxes on my pension and Social Security income and am proud to do so. Governments at all levels provide valuable services to me and my fellow citizens, and I show my appreciation by contributing to the costs of these benefits.

Unlike Mr. Romney, I have no investments in the Cayman Islands or accounts in Swiss banks to shelter my income from the obligations of citizenship. There are many of us in the 53 percent category who are in the same situation as I, and we want him and other well-to-do Republicans to pay their fair share.

Think about it — why should we support a party whose record over the past decade has been opposition to all progress and assisting the well-to-do to avoid paying their fair share of taxes?

Richard Pierard

Hendersonville

Broken record

To the editor: When Mike Tower started writing his column a few years back, I thought we might finally get a local column that dealt with large political issues in a rational way. What the column has become is more like a broken record played at the wrong speed.

Tower talks about the big issues but seems unable to take a specific position on any of them. Like many of the politicians he rails against, he seems to want every reader on his side. About his only firm position is the goofy idea that we should get rid of all those “corrupt” politicians and start over

Not sure why he thinks the American voter would do better next time. Maybe a better idea would be to get rid of Mike Quixote and the other columnists and start fresh. Call it Times-News sunset legislation for columnists!

<p>To the editor: Let’s talk about Eva Ritchey’s letter of Sept. 17. She claims, You didn’t build that. That no one can make it without government. Does this sound like America’s republic to you?</p><p>Government used to be controlled by we the people, whose tax money hired contractors to build what people wanted. Perhaps she means that government is now this monster, no longer controlled by citizens, and therefore builds things without their control. Or maybe she means that teachers are no longer just we the people, who want to teach objectively, but government workers who indoctrinate our kids, like many liberal college professors who fail to teach America’s greatness.</p><p>When exposed to the same roads, teachers and civic workers as entrepreneurs, most of us didn’t become such. Was she just insulting entrepreneurs who she thinks were just lucky to achieve when the rest of us didn’t? And if others just had programs that transferred money from entrepreneurs to those who don’t work, they, too, would be successful? Sounds like tax-the-rich Barack Obama.</p><p>All conservatives want is for government to encourage self-reliance by only helping those who can’t help themselves. We want efficiency of government.</p><p>We don’t understand why everyone doesn’t want that.</p><p><em>Stephen Jones</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p><h3>Don’t count on me</h3>
<p>To the editor: Candidate Mitt Romney said in his Boca Raton, Fla., speech to wealthy supporters that 53 percent of the American people paid income taxes, and he implied they were the ones who might be expected to vote Republican. As one who is numbered among that group, I would like to tell him and all other Republican operatives that they cannot count on my vote.</p><p>Although I retired more than a decade ago, I pay income taxes on my pension and Social Security income and am proud to do so. Governments at all levels provide valuable services to me and my fellow citizens, and I show my appreciation by contributing to the costs of these benefits.</p><p>Unlike Mr. Romney, I have no investments in the Cayman Islands or accounts in Swiss banks to shelter my income from the obligations of citizenship. There are many of us in the 53 percent category who are in the same situation as I, and we want him and other well-to-do Republicans to pay their fair share.</p><p>Think about it  why should we support a party whose record over the past decade has been opposition to all progress and assisting the well-to-do to avoid paying their fair share of taxes?</p><p><em>Richard Pierard</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p><h3>Broken record</h3>
<p>To the editor: When Mike Tower started writing his column a few years back, I thought we might finally get a local column that dealt with large political issues in a rational way. What the column has become is more like a broken record played at the wrong speed.</p><p>Tower talks about the big issues but seems unable to take a specific position on any of them. Like many of the politicians he rails against, he seems to want every reader on his side. About his only firm position is the goofy idea that we should get rid of all those corrupt politicians and start over</p><p>Not sure why he thinks the American voter would do better next time. Maybe a better idea would be to get rid of Mike Quixote and the other columnists and start fresh. Call it Times-News sunset legislation for columnists!</p><p><em>Bruce Beaudin</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p>